Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
‘WHY does your brand sae drop wi’ blude, | |
Edward, Edward? | |
Why does your brand sae drop wi’ blude, | |
And why sae sad gang ye, O?’ | |
‘O I hae kill’d my hawk sae gude, | 5 |
Mither, mither; | |
O I hae kill’d my hawk sae gude, | |
And I had nae mair but he, O.’ | |
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‘Your hawk’s blude was never sae red, | |
Edward, Edward; | 10 |
Your hawk’s blude was never sae red, | |
My dear son, I tell thee, O.’ | |
‘O I hae kill’d my red-roan steed, | |
Mither, mither; | |
O I hae kill’d my red-roan steed, | 15 |
That erst was sae fair and free, O.’ | |
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‘Your steed was auld, and ye hae got mair, | |
Edward, Edward; | |
Your steed was auld, and ye hae got mair; | |
Some other dule ye dree, O.’ | 20 |
‘O I hae kill’d my father dear, | |
Mither, mither; | |
O I hae kill’d my father dear, | |
Alas, and wae is me, O!’ | |
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‘And whatten penance will ye dree for that, | 25 |
Edward, Edward? | |
Whatten penance will ye dree for that? | |
My dear son, now tell me, O.’ | |
‘I’ll set my feet in yonder boat, | |
Mither, mither; | 30 |
I’ll set my feet in yonder boat, | |
And I’ll fare over the sea, O.’ | |
|
‘And what will ye do wi’ your tow’rs and your ha’, | |
Edward, Edward? | |
And what will ye do wi’ your tow’rs and your ha’, | 35 |
That were sae fair to see, O?’ | |
‘I’ll let them stand till they doun fa’, | |
Mither, mither; | |
I’ll let them stand till they doun fa’, | |
For here never mair maun I be, O.’ | 40 |
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‘And what will ye leave to your bairns and your wife, | |
Edward, Edward? | |
And what will ye leave to your bairns and your wife, | |
When ye gang owre the sea, O?’ | |
‘The warld’s room: let them beg through life, | 45 |
Mither, mither; | |
The warld’s room: let them beg through life; | |
For them never mair will I see, O.’ | |
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‘And what will ye leave to your ain mither dear, | |
Edward, Edward? | 50 |
And what will ye leave to your ain mither dear, | |
My dear son, now tell me, O?’ | |
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‘The curse of hell frae me sall ye bear, | |
Mither, mither; | |
The curse of hell frae me sall ye bear: | 55 |
Sic counsels ye gave to me, O!’ | |